Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The graph below gives information about the number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US between 1960 and 2020.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Number of jobs in four sectors of the economy in the US, 1960-2020

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The assigned line graph depicts the information about the jobs in four sectors in the Unites States from 1960 to 2020.

Overall, it is clear that the manufacturing sector provided a high number of jobs, , in the beginning the healthcare sector has minimum number of jobs. While the agriculture sector reduced jobs over the period.

In detail, in the year 1960 the manufacturing sector provided 15 million jobs in the United States followed by agriculture and retail sector which recorded as 5 million jobs. Initially the healthcare sector remained at the lowest level in providing number of jobs, but it increased over the period and provided 15 million jobs in the year 2020.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While you have identified some main features, such as the initial and final figures for manufacturing and healthcare, the analysis is incomplete. You have omitted key trends for the retail sector and failed to provide a comprehensive comparison across all four sectors. The summary is underdeveloped, and the lack of sufficient length means that the data is not fully reported or supported. To improve, ensure you cover all categories provided in the graph and provide a more detailed breakdown of the trends over the entire 60-year period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. However, the progression of ideas is limited due to the brevity of the text. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In detail' and 'Initially', but the transitions between sentences feel somewhat mechanical. The overview paragraph is slightly disjointed, particularly with the punctuation error 'jobs, , in the beginning'. To improve, focus on using a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, logical focus that contributes to the overall summary.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'provided a high number of jobs' and 'recorded as 5 million jobs' are functional but lack the precision expected at higher bands. There are also minor errors, such as 'Unites States' (spelling) and 'minimum number of jobs' (should be 'lowest number'). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more varied vocabulary related to trends and data, such as 'fluctuated', 'peaked', or 'experienced a steady decline', and ensure accurate word choice throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the flow. For example, 'the manufacturing sector provided a high number of jobs, , in the beginning' contains punctuation errors and awkward phrasing. Additionally, 'the agriculture sector reduced jobs' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'the number of jobs in the agriculture sector declined'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors limits the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage to enhance your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.